Watch The Andy Griffith Show

One of the things we all want to remember from our childhood, is a happy feeling of family unity. That feeling can come in many forms. A camping trip with dad, a vacation with the whole family, Christmas at grandma's house. Some of those happy memories can come in the form of a favorite television show, watched together after dinner.

When I was a child one of those shows was "The Andy Griffith Show". I myself being from, and living in North Carolina, at the time the show was originally aired, immediately felt a connection to the people and stories on the show.

The main characters of the show are; Sheriff Andy Taylor, Aunt Bea, Deputy Barney Fife, and Andy's son, Opie. The concept of the show is everyday life in a small town, where everyone knows and cares about each other.

Andy is a country-minded, smart, compassionate sheriff who has to deal with raising a son on his own, a deputy who makes most matters worse, and a town full of people who depend on him for safety. In the stories, there are basic lessons in fairness, honesty, right and wrong, respect for the law, and respect for each other. Barney is the deputy with a lion-heart in a small body. He's a stickler for the details of the law to the detriment of his popularity. He wants to do well so badly that he ends up making mistakes, and looking foolish in the process. Aunt Bea is the aunt who moved in to help take care of Andy and Opie after Opie's mother died. She is understated and sweet. She cooks, cleans, makes pies and jams for the fair, and balances out the cast. Opie, Andy's son, plays the all-American boy with an intelligent and honest spirit. He and Andy have a very close and open relationship, and they are each other's best friend.

The stories in the series are funny, ironic, educational, sweet, loving, and reflect a time when people were a community that depended on each other to survive. The family dynamic is intact and just watching the show will bring your own family closer together. It's just possible that it could help with any problems there may be in you life, and make those happy feelings of family unity a great memory for your own children to look back on.

The Andy Griffith Show is currently available to watch free on FlixFling VOD and stream on CBS. You can also stream, download, buy, rent The Andy Griffith Show on demand at Amazon Prime, Netflix, Amazon, Sling, Google Play, iTunes online.

The Andy Griffith Show News

Jim Nabor Marries His Long-Time Partner

After 38 years together, the actor known for playing lovable Gomer Pyle marries his partner in a quiet Seattle ceremony.

TV Legend Andy Griffith Dead at 86

The TV community lost a legend today as Andy Griffith passed away at the age of 86. According to Deadline, Griffith's former co-star Ron Howard revealed that Griffith's health had been in decline "for some time," so the actor's death was not sudden or unexpected.